Portraits of Learning 2008 Winners (sponsored by Adobe)

Next time someone laments about “these kids today,” point them to this year’s winners of our student photography contest. Selected from an overwhelming six thousand entries, these images are proof that “these kids today” are not only extremely talented but also powerfully enabled by digital tools that can help them express and communicate those talents. A team of editors culled the masses down to a list of finalists for each category. We then relied on the keen eye of Louis Tonsmeire, Jr., a professional photographer with over 30 years experience and who serves on the board of directors of board member of Professional Photographers of America, to make the final call. This was not an easy chore. The inspired quality of almost all the entries was a testament to both the students and their teachers. -- Kevin Hogan